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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Plymouth, Michigan, 30 December 2011--After 14 years of producing the genealogical utility software *Clooz*, Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, CG, of Ancestor Detective, LLC, has transferred ownership of the software to Joe Bissett of Somerset, Texas. Bissett has plans to re-release *Clooz *at some point in the future, with updates to templates, reports and other customer requests. He is also looking at recent technological Internet options. Kerstens will provide input to the update as needed.

During the transition, the *Clooz *software program will no longer be sold, but the *Clooz 2 Manual * and *Clooz 2 Tutorial* will still be available from the Ancestor Detective Store at http://www.ancestordetective.com/zstore/ for 50 percent off, as long as supplies last, using the coupon code *fe3b0f63dc*. Joe will make an announcement about the software as soon as he has evaluated the impact of various requested updates. As of 1 January 2012, Bissett will provide customer support for *Clooz *users. He can be contacted at jbissett@hot-peppers.com during the transition.

Joe is an accomplished member of the genealogy community who currently administers three different Rootsweb Surname lists: Piggott, Cumminsky, and Kerslake. In 2009 he was the first Bissett male to submit a Y-DNA test toFamily Tree DNA, and now runs the highly successful Bissett DNA project for FTDNA.

Kerstens, the executive director of the Plymouth (Michigan) Historical Museum, remains the managing editor of the *National Genealogical Society Magazine* and a speaker at the upcoming NGS Family History Conference inCincinnati, 9-12 May 2012.

Friday, December 30, 2011

NEHGS is ringing in the new year with some fantastic education programs for the months of January and February! Please consider posting these exciting program announcements to your blog:

January 2012 New Visitor and Welcome Tour

When: January 4, 2012 10:00AM - 11:00AM

Where: NEHGS

99-101 Newbury Street

Boston, MA 02116

Description: Starting your family genealogy can seem a little daunting at first. There is so much information found in a variety of locations. Let NEHGS help you make sense of it all by attending this FREE lecture for both members and non-members. This talk introduces you to the NEHGS research library, located at 99-101 Newbury Street in Boston.

Founded in 1845, NEHGS is the country’s oldest and largest non-profit genealogy library and archive. With more than 15 million artifacts, books, manuscripts, microfilms, journals, photographs, records, and other items, NEHGS can provide researchers of every level some of the most important sources of information.

You will also have an opportunity to describe your research interests to one of our expert genealogists on staff, who can offer some advice on how to proceed. The program starts with a thirty-minute introductory lecture and will be followed by a tour of the library and its vast holdings. Make plans to start your genealogy with this great tour.

Using AmericanAncestors.org - January

When: January 11, 2012 10:00AM - 11:00AM

Where: NEHGS

99-101 Newbury Street

Boston, MA 02116

Description: The NEHGS website, AmericanAncestors.org, is full of great features, tools, resources, and content that highlights NEHGS’ national expertise in genealogy and family history. We now have more than 200 million searchable names covering New England, New York, and other areas of family research dating back to 1620. We invite you to attend this free lecture to learn more about this incredible online resource.

February 2012 New Visitor Welcome Tour

When: February 4, 2012 10:00AM - 11:00AM

Where: NEHGS

99-101 Newbury Street

Boston, MA 02116

Description: Starting your family genealogy can seem a little daunting. There is so much information to be found in a variety of locations. Let NEHGS help you make sense of it all by attending this FREE lecture for members and non-members. This orientation and tour introduces you to the NEHGS research facility, located at 99-101 Newbury Street in Boston.

Founded in 1845, NEHGS is the country’s oldest and largest non-profit genealogy library and archive.

With more than 15 million artifacts, books, manuscripts, microfilms, journals, photographs, records, and expert staff to help you navigate it all, NEHGS provides the access you need to research your family history.

You will also have an opportunity to describe your research interests to one of our expert genealogists on staff, who can offer advice on how to proceed. The program starts with a thirty-minute introductory lecture and will be followed by a tour of the library and its vast holdings.

Black Families in Hampden County - Lecture and Book Signing

When: February 8, 2012 6:00PM - 7:00PM

Where: NEHGS

99-101 Newbury Street

Boston, MA 02116

Description: Join us for an evening with former Executive Director of the Springfield Museums and author Joseph Carvalho III, as he shares his revised edition ofBlack Families in Hampden County, Massachusetts 1650-1865,recently published by NEHGS. The book presents genealogical, bio­graphical, and historical information about Afri­can American individuals and families who lived in the area now known as Hampden County in western Massachusetts. For this event Carvalho will discuss the genesis of the book project and the development of the African American community in western Massachusetts from its earliest colonial origins to the end of the Civil War. The lecture will be followed by a book signing.

Getting Started in Genealogy

When: Wednesdays, February 15, 22, 29 6 –8 p.m.

Where: NEHGS

99-101 Newbury Street

Boston, MA 02116

Description: How does one go about getting started in genealogy? There are plenty of websites, libraries, and printed sources available, but access to all that information can leave a beginner feeling overwhelmed. Let an NEHGS expert help navigate the first steps in tracing family history. Senior Researcher Rhonda R. McClure will share her knowledge and helpful strategies for beginning a family history journey in this three-part course. Pass this information on to that friend or family member who has been looking for the right place to start their own research! Tuition: $30. Registration required; register online or by phone at 617-226-1226. More information is available on AmericanAncestors.org.

SALT
LAKE CITY, UTAH ¾
Genealogists
and family history enthusiasts looking for help with Central American research
will be interested in a free class being held on Saturday, January 14, at the
Family History Library. The topic is:

1:00
p.m. “La investigación genealógica en
Centroamérica”

·Genealogical Research in Central America

·Taught in Spanish

·Held
in the B1 classroom of the Family History Library.

Another mid-week class in January on Hispanic research will be held on:

Thursday, 5 Jan, 7:00 p.m. “Buscando en los registros históricos de

FamilySearch.org”

·Records Search in FamilySearch.org

·Taught in Spanish

·Held
in the Main floor computer lab of the Family History Library.

To view the class
schedule online, go to www.familysearch.org. The library is located to the west of
Temple Square on West Temple between North Temple and South Temple Streets in
downtown Salt Lake City. On Saturdays, parking is free to library patrons
and is located behind the Church History Museum. To register for these
free classes, send an email to FHLClassReg@familysearch.org or call 801-240-4950.

SALT
LAKE CITY, UTAH ¾
Genealogists
and family history enthusiasts looking for help with German research will be
interested in a free workshop being held on Saturday, January 28, at the Family
History Library. The topic is:

“German
Research Workshop” 9:00 a.m.to 12:00 p.m.

·Beginning to Intermediate skills.

·Requires pre-registration. Please be sure to register early as the class
size is limited to 63.

·Prior to the workshop, please watch the following
two German Online classes located at wiki.familysearch.org – Learn – Germany:

oGermany Beginning Research Series Lesson 1: Getting Started

oGermany Beginning Research Series Lesson 2: Learn About Historical Background.

·This workshop will involve classroom instruction,
group discussions and will provide a workbook at no cost to each participant.

·This workshop was taught at the FGS Conference in
2011.

To view the class
schedule online, go to www.familysearch.org. The Workshop will be held in the Main
Floor classroom of the Family History Library.
The library is located to the west of Temple Square on West Temple
between North Temple and South Temple Streets in downtown Salt Lake City.
On Saturdays, parking is free to library patrons and is located behind the
Church History Museum. To register for these free classes, send an email
to FHLClassReg@familysearch.org or call 801-240-4950.

SALT
LAKE CITY, UTAH ¾
Genealogists
and family history enthusiasts looking for help with getting started in their
research will be interested in a free Getting Started Research Series being
held on Saturday, January 14, at the Family History Library. The classes will
include:

9:00
a.m. “Starting Your Family History”

10:15
a.m. “How to Guess Where to Start”

11:30
a.m. “Family History on the Internet”

1:15
p.m. “Research Logs, a Tool for
Organizing”

To view the class
schedule online, go to www.familysearch.org. Classes will be held in the Main
Floor classroom of the Family History Library. The library is located to the west of Temple
Square on West Temple between North Temple and South Temple Streets in downtown
Salt Lake City. On Saturdays, parking is free to library patrons and is
located behind the Church History Museum. To register for these free
classes, send an email to FHLClassReg@familysearch.org or call 801-240-4950.

In the spirit of pantomime, leading family history website www.findmypast.co.ukhas published a list of real people throughout history with pantomime names. From the likes of Robin Hood to Dick Whittington, these people have been spotted in the birth and census records dating back to 1837. A record of a Peter Pan has also been discovered in an eighteenth century will.

Captain Hook and Peter Pan were two among the real-life cast – the real Peter Pan was discovered in a will from 1762 and he was joined by Britain’s own Captain Hook born in Kent in 1898. However, when it came to the dames, Peter Pan was spoilt for choice, with 27 Wendy Darlings to choose from. 109 Cinderellas didn’t get to go to the ball, with not one Prince Charming appearing in the records.

Robbing from the rich to give to the poor,Robin Hood, the finest marksman in all of England could hit a target faster than you could say “he’s behind you”. Although he could never be matched he certainly had his followers, with 91 Robin Hoods showing up in the records, including one in the hero’s hometown of Nottingham.

There was a touch of magic in the air when findmypast.co.uk discovered seven Aladdins and 19 Genies hidden among the records, but they were not alone on the mystical front with 25 Fairys and 249 Sultans joining them too.

Dick Whittington may have found his fortune in London but his name has spread far and wide, with 11 Dick Whittingtons popping up all across England.

Debra Chatfield, family historian at findmypast.co.uk commented: “Pantomime is a great British tradition and in the same way that many people nowadays name their children after celebrities, in the past perhaps people were inspired by their favourite panto heroes. By searching the records online atfindmypast.co.uk, you can find out more about your family and uncover all sorts of mysteries, which is what makes it so exciting and surprising. And who knows, you could even find a real-life Aladdin orCinderella in your family tree.”

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

FamilySearch, in collaboration with other leading genealogy organizations, will begin publishing the 1940 U.S. Federal Census online for free on April 2, 2012—and tens of thousands of indexers are needed to help make the digital images searchable online.

Unlike previous census years, the 16th population census of the United States will be released by the National Archives and Records Administration in the form of free digital images. By law, census records cannot be released until 72 years have passed.

April 2, 2012, marks 72 years to the day since the 1940 census was taken. Census records from 1790 through 1930 are currently available on FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch will provide those images online to tens of thousands of volunteers to start transcribing the records so they become searchable. Indexers type information from the digital images into electronic forms that make the information searchable online.

FamilySearch expects the 132 million records to be indexed by the end of 2012, but meeting that deadline depends on how many volunteers work on them.

“We’re looking for 100,000 additional indexers for this project,” said Michael Judson, FamilySearch’s indexing workforce development manager. “It’s the genealogy story of the year, and there is a lot of interest both in and out of the Church.”

The 1940 U.S. Federal Census is the largest, most comprehensive, and most recent record set available that records the names of those who were living in the United States at the time the census was taken.

Many of these individuals are part of what has been called the greatest generation—people who lived through the Great Depression, fought in World War II, and lived throughout the 48 states that existed at the time.

Tens of millions of people living in the United States in 1940 are still living today, making the 1940 census a record set that connects people with recent family records. It was the first to record such interesting facts as where people lived five years before, individuals’ highest educational level achieved, and detailed income and occupation information.

“The 1940 census is attractive to both new and experienced researchers because most people in the United States can remember a relative that was living in 1940,” said David Rencher, chief genealogy officer for FamilySearch. “It will do more to connect living memory with historical records and families than any other collection previously made available.”

Dear Family History Consultant, Family History Center Director, Stake Indexing Director, and Priesthood Leader:

Here is some important information about upcoming events and resources that will help you as you use family history in the work of salvation and in blessing the lives of Church members.

In its inaugural year, the RootsTech conference was wildly successful and is one of three premier events for the family history community each year. This year (February 2-4, 2012, Salt Palace Convention Center) we are hoping to build on last year’s success and continue to provide a forum to receive training and information. We are pleased to announce that we will once again offer training for your family history church calling.

You have the option of:

·Paying for the full conference attendance at a discounted rate. Consultant training is NOT included in this option (see below). Use this link and code RT89: http://rootstech.org/register

·Attending the free events only (training cla sses below, exhibit area, and devotional). Use this link to register: http://rootstech.org/training

·Doing both, as your schedule allows. Remember, if you choose to do both, you must register using both links u>above!

Consultant Training Information

The free courses will center on consultants, family history centers, and priesthood leaders. In addition, we plan to once again offer a devotional from an LDS Church General Authority. We will keep you informed as dates, times, and details become available.

The three free training courses are titled:

·Family History Consultants: Keys to Success and Working with Leaders

·Priesthood Leaders: Utilizing Family History in the Work of Salvation

With regard to RootsTech, you should also know that those with family history callings are eligible for a substantial discount on the purchase of a full conference pass. Even though the early bird period has passed, you may still use the RT89 code when you register at http://rootstech.org and pay only $89 for the full conference. The full conference does NOT include the free training. Again, if you want to pay for the conference and attend the free events, you must register for both using both links. Lunches and other events are priced and paid for separately.

Finally, we would like to remind you that the First Presidency has given all of us a wonderful Christmas gift with the release of the Bible Videos that are a heart-touching look at key events in the Savior’s life. They can be accessed at http://biblevideos.lds.org. They are also available on the Apple AppStore for the iPad and iPhone. They are a wonderful resource.

The British Newspaper Archive - recently launched to the public - has today been made available through leading family history website genesreunited.co.uk, transforming how people research the past. Members will be able to search for newspaper articles about their ancestors or the areas where they have lived, adding a whole new dimension to family history research.

The newspaper archive, first launched to the public on the 29th November 2011, currently hosts over 4 million pages from more than 200 regional newspaper titles (UK and Ireland), spanning the 18th and 19th centuries, and is fully searchable. 8,000 pages are added every day, making this an invaluable resource for family historians throughout the UK.

The newspapers illustrate the stories, issues, anxieties and obsessions of 19th century Britain and Ireland, also the parallels between the 19th century and present day. The archive includes phenomenally detailed and elaborately illustrated reports of the Great Exhibition of 1851, highlighting Victorian creativity and enterprise, as well as the complaints registered about strikes, delays and the effect on trade in the capital during the Exhibition's run. Also included are stories on infamous murder trials, and men, women and children transported to the other side of the world for minor crimes; prominent illustrations and adverts, flagging the latest fashion to cure-alls for illnesses - all illuminating local history on an unprecedented level.

Rhoda Breakell, Head of Genesreunited.co.uk, commented: "We are really excited to be able to host the British Newspaper Archive on genesreunited.co.uk following its huge success since launching earlier this year. Offering this service to our members means that the nation's memories are not only kept alive online, but members can find stories about their ancestors or look up the area they lived in at the touch of a button. Material that was previously hard to reach because of where it was kept can now be in front of you within minutes. It's a fantastic new resource for looking into the history of your family.

"Our members are undoubtedly going to unearth some special findings and we're really interested in hearing about them via the community forum or message board. Whether it is an unusual discovery about their ancestors or area they lived in, or the most amusing and scandalous headlines, tell us about it!"

Genes Reunited Platinum members can add the British Newspaper Archive to their current subscription for £39.95.

Genes Reunited is owned by online publishers brightsolid. brightsolid was chosen by the British Library as the partner for this project due to its track record on projects such as the digitisation of the 1911 census in partnership with The National Archives.

Genes Reunited was launched in 2003 as a sister-site to the Internet phenomenon Friends Reunited. Since then it has grown to become the UK's largest genealogy website.

It marked a revolution in genealogy and ancestry by combining them with Internet social-networking. Members are able to build their family tree by posting it on the site and investigating which ancestors they share with other members. They can also search historical records such as census, birth, death, marriage and military records.

Genes Reunited has over 12 million members and over 780 million names listed. One new name is added to the site every single second.

Updated version of world’s most popular free family history software adds new blend of historical content and technological innovation to highlight the depth and diversity in every family’s heritage

PROVO, Utah & LONDON & TEL AVIV, Israel– December 21, 2011: MyHeritage.com, the largest family network on the web, today announced the release of Family Tree Builder 6.0, the most comprehensive free software for family history fans around the world. With the addition of automatic research in historical records and new features for presenting family memories, Family Tree Builder 6.0 makes researching family history more engaging and rewarding than ever.

Millions of family history enthusiasts and genealogists worldwide use MyHeritage’s Family Tree Builder software to explore, document and showcase their roots. The newly improved Family Tree Builder 6.0 will enable them to access historical content for the first time, view their family history in several innovative and stylish new ways and help celebrate family events - past and present.

“Combining cutting edge technology with ease-of-use, Family Tree Builder is the ideal companion for taking an exciting journey to the past, sharing memories in the present and documenting them for future generations”, said MyHeritage Founder and CEO Gilad Japhet. “Packed with exciting new features, Family Tree Builder adds color and depth to family history research for professionals and beginners alike. We’re proud to have developed the industry’s most comprehensive and feature-rich software, and, true to our mission of bringing family history to the masses, we’ll continue to keep it free for all to use.”

Automatic search for historical content

Following the recent acquisition of World Vital Records by MyHeritage, Family Tree Builder 6.0 adds historical content to its suite of features for the first time. The software automatically searches for relevant historical records amongst billions of birth, marriage, death and census records, plus newspapers and yearbooks - whenever information in the family tree is added or edited. Relevant historical records for any person in the tree can then be viewed in just one click.

New ways to view and present your family history

Family Tree Builder users can synchronize their data with a private online family site on MyHeritage.com, an ideal platform for sharing their heritage and staying in touch with their family. This also enables family members to view their family tree and share photos on-the-go using MyHeritage's recently released free mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android. Improved integration with family sites seamlessly merges some of the most popular web-based features on MyHeritage with the software, such as:

• Family Statistics: MyHeritage analyzes the family tree and produces 45 beautiful, enlightening statistics like average lifespan and most commonly used first names. Many unique stats not available anywhere else are displayed. For example, the geographical distribution of countries of birth and residence, the top families where the gap between the age of husband and wife is highest, the average age difference between youngest and oldest child in all families, and much more.

• Profile pages: Profile Pages present the depth and diversity of family history person by person. Profiles beautifully display information about individuals in the tree and include photos, close family relatives, events, citations and much more.

• Family Timeline:Family events and photos are arranged in an attractive, fun-to-use timeline. Zoom in from a century to a single day and compare any family member’s timeline with relevant historical events.

• Family Timebook: The Timebook is a beautiful digital book of family photos and biographies of close relatives. Timebooks are generated using clever algorithms that resemble the way people create scrapbooks with tender loving care, but do so automatically.

• Family Memory Game: This unique online game automatically generates personalized picture cards of close relatives and ancestors - based on a user’s family tree. It can be played in competition mode or against the clock. The game is ideal for educating younger generations about their ancestors and introducing them to the fascinating hobby of genealogy.

Celebrate family events

• Family Events: Important family events are listed and displayed on convenient monthly or yearly calendars – making it easy to remember special family occasions and send greetings.

The above new features complement the vast range of existing features in Family Tree Builder 6.0, which include Smart Matches™, stunning family tree charts, facial recognition technology, interactive maps, photo albums and slideshows, book reports, family tree consistency checker, to-do lists and much more.

MyHeritage is the most popular family network on the web. Millions of families around the world enjoy having a private and free place for their families to keep in touch and to showcase their roots. MyHeritage’s Smart Matching™ technology empowers users with an exciting and innovative way to find relatives and explore their family history. With all family information stored in a secure site, MyHeritage is the ideal place to share family photos and preserve special family moments. Available in 38 languages, MyHeritage has more than 60 million registered users and is home to more than 900 million profiles and 21 million family trees. The company is backed by Accel Partners and Index Ventures, the investors of Facebook and Skype. For more information visit www.myheritage.com.